Mercury drops below freezing point in Kashmir

SRINAGAR — Night temperatures dropped below freezing point in Kashmir with Gulmarg recording a low of minus 10.4°C on Thursday, officials said.

A Meteorological Department official here told GNS that Srinagar, the summer capital of the J&K, recorded a low of minus 0.1°C against last night’s 0.6°C, he said. “Qazigund, the gateway town of Kashmir, witnessed a low of minus 2.0°C against minus 0.3°C on the previous night.”

Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, had a low of minus 2.7°C against minus 2.5°C on the previous night, the official said. “Pahalgam, the famous resort in south Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 8.5°C against minus 5.1°C last night.”

Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 10.4°C against minus 10.0°C on the previous night, he said.

The temperature was 4.2°C below normal for this time of the year in the famous resort in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, he said. “Kupwara town in north Kashmir recorded a low of minus 1.9°C against minus 1.3°C on the previous night.”

While the ‘Chillai Kalan’, the 40-day long harshest period of winter ended on January 30, Kashmir is under the grip of the 20-day long ‘Chillai Khurd’ which would be followed by 10-day-long ‘Chilla Bachha’.

Jammu recorded a low of 7.1°C against the previous night’s 8.8°C, the official said. “The temperature was 3.0°C below normal for the J&K’s winter capital during this time of the year.”

Banihal recorded a low of minus 1.6°C, Batote had a minimum of 0.2°C while Bhaderwah recorded a low of minus 1.0 °C, the official said.

Ladakh’s Leh recorded a low of minus 15.0°C against last night minus 10.1°C while mercury at automatic station in Kargil settled at minus 18.0°C. Drass, the second coldest place in the world after Siberia, recorded a low of minus 22.9°C against last night’s minus 16.2°C, the official said.

The weatherman has forecast dry weather for two days.